Friday, February 03, 2006

LINKTOP officials of President Robert Mugabe's government are using their positions to access antiretroviral drugs meant for the poor, according to Zimonline, an independent internet news site that focuses on Zimbabwe.Zimonline's sources in Zimbabwe say officials intercept the drugs from donors or those purchased by the government's National AIDS Council before they are distributed to state hospitals.The website, which operates from SA, said it had a list of some of the names of the government and Zanu (PF) officials involved in the drugs scam, but for legal reasons could not reveal them.It said the list included cabinet ministers, members of Zanu (PF)'s politburo committee, police and military officials as well as some close relatives and friends of the politicians and government officials."The (AIDS council) just hands over the drugs (to top officials). It has become so normal it is kind of semi-officialised," said one source, who refused to be named for fear of reprisals.The source told Zimonline that of the few antiretrovirals that had been received, most had been snapped up by powerful government and army officials or by those who were connected to the ruling elite.

This is one of the reason that many are cynical about sending carte blanch aid to many African countries...The HIV drugs were donated to be given free to the poor...now will be used by the rich, or more probably resold to desperate people for a profit...